Drinking alcohol can raise your blood pressure, but did you know that it’s how you drink your beer, wine or martini that can really make a difference? Drinking alcohol a la carte (without food) raises your blood pressure temporarily and can actually increase your risk of developing hypertension (high blood pressure) by 40%, which also increases your risk for heart disease.

Without eating something to “soak up” some of the effects of the alcohol, your blood pressure will jump. If you're already at risk for high blood pressure or you drink regularly, don’t drink alone. Alcoholic drinks should always be enjoyed in the company of food and should only be consumed in moderation, which means having only one or two drinks on occasion.

One drink is equivalent to 12 ounces of beer or a wine cooler, 5 ounces of wine, 1.5 ounce of 80-proof liquor or 1 ounce of 100-proof liquor. So whether you’re having a glass of merlot with your spaghetti and meatballs or drinking beer with your buffalo wings, make sure you eat as you drink to help keep your blood pressure under control.